Star Wars Day - Year 2

This is becoming a tradition - 1/2 day on the last day of the semester, then you and Daddy head directly to the movies to see Star Wars. This year - it was Rogue One. Looks like you enjoyed it. Next year - Carter crashes the party. Haha - evil laugh.

Santa

While picking up Carter from school - we ran into Santa - :) and grabbed a quick photo op

2nd Grade Writings

From the beginning of the year - 

Middle of the semester- 

Snow Globe Project - 

 I love that your tried to give yourself an extra 2 points - :)

Xmas Card Re-Cap 2009-2016

 

 

Dear Daughter

Dear Maevy -

Yesterday morning I broke the news that there wasn't going to be a woman president. You immediately broke into tears, which of course made me cry. I think the tears were mostly because - you had heard Trump was going to put anyone that voted for Clinton in jail. I reassured you that this wasn't true - and everything was going to be fine. And I hope one day soon we'll be able to vote again for a woman.

By the end of the day you had brushed the whole thing off. We watched Hillary's speech together and when you saw people crying in the audience, you responded - "There's no reason to get emotional. It's going to be okay." And when she talked about pursuing your dreams - you said "Yeah, got it." Like, of course, duh HRC. No one's stopping me.

The most fun part - since you are currently obsessed with your new awesome math skills - was chatting about the Electoral College. Her winning the popular vote and not the election didn't make much sense to you. Then we figured out different scenarios where if she had won this state or that state, then she would have gotten the 270 needed. You recommended that she should have won Florida and Texas, since they had the most electoral votes.

Here's my favorite part from the speech -
"And to all the women, and especially the young women, who put their faith in this campaign and in me, I want you to know that nothing has made me prouder than to be your champion.

Now, I — I know — I know we have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but some day someone will and hopefully sooner than we might think right now. And — and to all the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams."

I took the news a little harder - and spent most of the day teary-eyed...still am as I write this. Mr. Trump has openly said a lot of not nice things about a lot people, including women and disabled people. That type of behavior is never acceptable (or presidential), and as a mother of two daughters and a son with a disability, it hurts. 

To little girl-me who as has been dreaming of breaking this glass ceiling for years, it really hurt. Looking back, I probably should have been Women's Studies major. In elementary school, I always chose a woman for non-fiction book reports/projects - Clara Barton, Carol Burnett, Eudora Welty are a few I remember. In middle school, I chose to write about my own mother's life for a class speech contest, and won. In the 8th grade, my first official research paper was about the Equal Rights Amendment, At one point, I even wanted to be President. So much so - that my first email address ever - had "thepres" in it. In high school, I went to Girls State. I chose the D.C area for college, to study politics and intern on Capitol Hill. I'm still proud that I was accepted to George Washington University's Women in Power program. On days like this - I wish I had gone and was still paying off the debt. Hillary's still my champion. Maybe one day you'll write about her.

Regardless of who is in the White House - please know that I will always protect you. I will forever teach you to love and support everyone in this country - regardless of race, sex, or religion, to speak up for those that can't, for what you believe in, and when something is wrong. I will help you to learn to understand those that you disagree with and more importantly how to solve conflicts in a civil manner.

"...let us have faith in each other, let us not grow weary, let us not lose heart, for there are more seasons to come. And there is more work to do."

 Always know - you are bright, strong, funny, and beautiful. I'll forever be your champion.

Love,

Mom

2nd Grade Parent-Teacher Conference

Maevy-girl-

Your 2nd grade Parent-Teacher conference went great this morning - shocker! Mrs. Kessler said she really enjoys having you in her class and she loves seeing how your brain works. She sometimes find it hard to challenge you. This is becoming a theme. 

Things I asked about - 

- She thinks your friendship with Daphne and Ainsley is healthy. There's a bit of competition, but she thinks it's healthy.

- Socially - you are inclusive, supportive, and helpful. You are well liked by your classmates, and not a show-off or disruptive due to intelligence. 

- You are still clumsy and do still fall off your chair. 

- Your organizational skills have improved and you are keeping up with your things. 

- Penmanship is not graded or really taught, but you have good handwriting when you take your time. She will teach cursive after Christmas. 

- Ms. Kessler tells the class she grades everything. She doesn't specifically point out when you're being tested - because she wants the same amount effort, regardless of the assignment. This was good to find out - so I can reinforce it at home. She has noticed an improvement in you checking your work to prevent careless mistakes. She did say you brought it up to her and you're working on it.

- The one story she told - involved a class math problem where everyone was working in groups. Something about - which combination of animals would result in 15 legs. The problem was actually unsolvable - but was supposed to encourage students to work through multiple equations. Within seconds of being given the problem, you spoke up and told her it was unsolvable because all the animals had an even set of legs and 15 was odd. She joked that she knew you would figure it out fast and should have sent you to the bathroom before presenting the problem to the class. :)

Your self-eval -

Favorite thing about your classroom: rocking chair

Favorite subject: Reading - because I'm good at it. 

Last Book I read: Laughs for living

One important thing you should about "student" me is: I like my classroom. 

Favorite place to work in the classroom: on the rug

One thing I want to work harder on is: checking my work

Ms. Kessler's notes -  (end of 4th grade reading level)

She couldn't think of anything for you to work on. 

There are only 3 people in your book club - and she's going to start sending home the writing assignment. You all claimed - there wasn't enough time to do it during the week at school. 

Daddy's pre-conference questionnaire - 

Keep up the good work, Maevy. I'm glad you are enjoying school and the 2nd grade!

Daddy's 40th!

Mommy was tricky tricky and got Uncle JR to make this banner for Daddy and then our neighbors put it up early this morning.

This is you reacting/laughing when you saw the sign. :)

 I do love that you took this picture of Daddy last Easter...

Halloween 2016

Maevy-girl-

Your costume this year - was all your idea. At first you wanted to be a flower - and I showed some ideas and picture where you would dress in green and then your head you be the flower. You didn't like that idea. You wanted to wear flowery leggings, a flowery dress, and a butterfly headband. Then you announced - I'm a garden. Done and done.

I don't really know if anyone knew what you were - but I liked it. Easiest costume yet...cost me $0.

You did a great job handing out candy - once you were done trick or treating....well when you weren't competing with your brother to hand out the candy 1st!

Happy Halloween!

Book Character Day: Eva from the Owl Diaries

Our favorite time of the year - Red Ribbon Week. Today is Dress as Your Favorite Book Character Day and you're having a Charlotte's Web party this afternoon.

We put our creative minds together and came up with a decent costume. You chose Eva from the Owl Diaries - a book/graphic novel that Grandma introduced you to. Nice tissue paper green beret, Mom!

Crazy smile...

Historic Vote

We were all pretty excited about voting for our 1st woman President.We all put our hands together and pressed vote together. Shimmy shimmy HRC. :)

Fall 2016 School Picture

Decent picture this year - Maevy. We worked on your smile that morning. :)

1st 9 weeks - 2nd grade Report Card

Maevy -

You're actually getting letter grades this year - all As. Keep up the great work!

Ms. Kessler included the following sweet note:
Maevy is a bright girl. She impresses me with her creative thinking. She is an enthusiast learner. She loves to participate and has a wealth of knowledge to share. I love being her teacher.
 

Lola the Pig

Maevy -

You got to be the first student to take Lola - the class pet, cousin of Wilbur (from Charlotte's Web) home for the night. You recorded in Lola's journal what all you and Lola did, including going to Carter's baseball practice. :)

Fall Break Round Up

Here's your fall break round up - in Memphis - Camp Grandma/Grandma School

Monday -
Sorting, window, empty pool, Beethoven movie

 Tuesday-
Clothes pins, spray swings/windows, game, nature center, Robyn/Jake, Weiner Dog movie

 

Wednesday -
Pumpkin patch/apple picking with M, Pop, Aunt Suz, and cousins

Thursday -
Shopping, milkshakes, played with playdoh, decorated pumpkins, Smores

Friday -
Jump house, Mom & Dad sign, playdoh, clean up